Animal Agriculture Initiative Awards Research Dollars for 2010-11

Six MSU animal agriculture research and Extension projects will share $350,000 in funding awarded by the Animal Agriculture Initiative (AAI) Coalition for 2010-11.

May 21, 2010

Six MSU animal agriculture research and Extension projects will share $350,000 in funding awarded by the Animal Agriculture Initiative (AAI) Coalition for 2010-11. A portion of this funding is also invested in a communications and marketing program and four species-specific quarterly newsletters.

Karen Plaut, chairperson of the MSU Department of Animal Science and director of the AAI Coalition, said the proposals funded for the upcoming project year take an interdisciplinary approach to current and emerging issues affecting Michigan?s $1.7 billion livestock industry.

"Again this year, the AAI Coalition had the privilege of reviewing a number of research proposals, each of which could ultimately benefit the state's animal agriculture industry," Plaut said. "The AAI has a reputation for funding forward-thinking projects, and this year is no exception."

The six projects were selected from 22 preproposals submitted to the AAI Coalition requesting a total of more than $485,000 in funding. Proposals were ranked on the basis of how well they addressed the issues identified as high priority by industry groups, MSU Extension program teams and the AAI Coalition.

Microbial Quality of Broiler Carcasses Chilled Using Water or Air ? Ike Kang, MAES animal science and food science and human nutrition researcher.

Educating the General Public on Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture ? Wendy Powers, MAES animal science and biosystems and agricultural engineering scientist.

Improved Parasite Control for Small Ruminants in Michigan: Evaluation of the Genetics of Parasite Resistance in Commercial Production and Development of a Sustainable, Integrated Management System ? Richard Ehrhardt, Department of Animal Science.

The AAI is Michigan's animal agriculture research, teaching and Extension initiative housed at MSU. It is a partnership between MSU, livestock producers and industry organizations, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Its objective is to address challenges facing Michigan animal-based agriculture through research and Extension projects.